Radiological supervision and interpretation of a cervical myelogram, reported when a different physician performs the contrast injection.
- Medicare
- $111.89
- Work RVU
- 0.89
- Global, days
- Region
- Spine
Documentation requirements
What must appear in the operative or office note to support the claim.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in 3 cited references ↓
- Who performed the injection and who interpreted
- Reason MRI was not suitable
- Contrast agent, volume, and level of puncture
- Fluoroscopic findings in a signed report
- Any follow-up CT ordered
Applicable modifiers
Modifiers commonly billed with this code.
Source · AMA CPT modifier descriptors · CMS NCCI Policy Manual
What this code covers
Source · Editorial summary grounded in 3 cited references ↓
72240 is the imaging half of a cervical myelogram: supervising the fluoroscopy and interpreting the images. Since the combined myelography codes arrived, 72240 has a narrow use. It is billed only when one physician does the injection (reported with 62284) and a different physician does the supervision and interpretation.
If one physician performs both the injection and the imaging, use the combined cervical myelography code instead. Billing 62284 plus 72240 when the same physician did both is a common error. CPT directs you to the combined code.
In orthopedic and spine practice, cervical myelography is ordered when MRI is contraindicated or hardware artifact blocks the view. It is usually followed by CT, which is billed separately with 72126. The note should explain why MRI was not used, since payers treat myelography as a second-line study.
RVU & reimbursement
Component RVUs and Medicare national rate. Actual payment varies by GPCI locality.
Source · CMS Physician Fee Schedule, RVU26A · January 2026
Work RVU vs. total RVU
The work RVU (0.89) is the surgeon's own effort — the figure physician pay and productivity targets are built on. The total RVU (3.35) adds practice overhead and malpractice, and is what drives the Medicare payment below.
| Work RVU | 0.89 |
| Practice expense RVU | 2.39 |
| Malpractice RVU | 0.07 |
| Total RVU | 3.35 |
| Medicare national rate | $111.89 |
| Global period | days |
Payment by site of service
Medicare pays different rates by setting. HOPD typically pays substantially more than ASC for the same procedure.
Source · CMS OPPS Addendum B·ASC HCPCS payment rates·2026
| Setting | Medicare rate (national) |
|---|---|
Office (PFS non-facility) Procedure performed in physician's office | $111.89 |
HOPD (APC 5573) Hospital outpatient department | $800.90 |
Common denial reasons
The recurring reasons claims for CPT 72240 get rejected.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in CMS NCCI edits, AAOS coding appeals, and cited references ↓
- Same physician billed 62284 and 72240 instead of the combined code
- No reason documented for myelography over MRI
- Missing interpretation report
- Combined code and 72240 billed together
- Authorization not obtained
Frequently asked questions
Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 3 cited references ↓
01When is 72240 billed?
02Can 72240 be billed with 62302?
03Is the CT after a cervical myelogram billed separately?
Sources & references
Editorial content was developed using the following public sources.
Mira Scribe
Mira Scribe captures the implanted device or prior hardware that makes MRI unusable, which is the first thing a myelography reviewer looks for.
See how Mira captures CPT 72240 documentation